Abstract: A liquid discharge state detection device includes a light emitting element that emits a light beam; and a light receiving element that is placed at a position shifted from a beam diameter of the light beam. The light receiving element receives scattered light generated when the light beam collides with a liquid droplet. A discharge state of the liquid droplet is detected based on a received light amount of the received scattered light. The liquid discharge state detection device further includes an analyzer in the forward direction from the light receiving element. The analyzer detects the scattered light having a polarization direction the same as a polarization direction of the light beam emitted by the light emitting element. The light receiving element receives the scattered light that has passed through the analyzer.